chapter twenty-one
chapter list
chapter twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-Two
As soon as I heard the knock on the door I knew they saw me go in my apartment. I couldn’t avoid them anymore. Three years was long enough. I opened the door and invited them in.
“Welcome to my home.”
“I can’t believe we never thought to try Europe.” I burst out laughing.
“AJ, hon, what were you going to do? Search every house in Europe?”
“Why? We waited three years. Why did you leave? Why didn’t you tell us where you were going?”
“It’s not that easy, Howie.” There was a knock on the door. “Just a second. I’ll be right back.” I opened the door to find my neighbor’s son, Jeff. “Hey, Jeff.”
“Hi, Emma. Are you going to come and – “ I put my hand over his mouth before he could say anything else.
“Yeah. I’ll be right over. Tell your mom I said thanks.” He smiled and left.
“What was that all about?” AJ and Howie looked really confused.
“I’ll be right back. I have to go next door for a second. Don’t go anywhere.” Howie and AJ both agreed not to leave, but were more confused than ever.
~<3~<3~<3~
“I’m so sorry, Sarah. I had a couple of people over and forgot to call you to say I’d be a little late.”
“It’s ok. I don’t mind at all. She was well behaved, but she was getting bored of being here.”
“Come on, Hailey. Mommy’s here. Let’s go.” I took my daughter’s hand and we walked back to our apartment.
Both Howie and AJ were staring at us as we walked into the room.
“Backstreet Boys!” Hailey yelled before hiding behind my legs.
“She’s a huge fan.” I smiled and walked towards them with Hailey still clinging to my leg.
“Who is she Nikki?”
“Well, Howie. She’s my daughter.” Their jaws dropped.
“Who’s her father? Is it someone here? Is it someone back home?” They still couldn’t see what she looked like, because she was hiding.
“I think you can probably tell if she would stop hiding. Come on honey. Guys, this is Hailey.” I sat down on the couch across from them and pulled her onto my lap.
“Oh my God. She looks just like…Is she his…God…” Howie couldn’t seem to find the words, so AJ tried to say it.
“The hair, the eyes, the skin color, Nick’s her father, isn’t he?” I nodded. “You have some nerve.” His eyes were now blazing. Howie and I looked at him in shock. “How could you keep this a secret from him? He should have been told right away. You’ve known three years and you didn’t tell him.”
“What would have everyone thought if they found out Nick Carter got a girl pregnant when he was 19 years old? The press would have torn him apart. It could have destroyed you all.”
“He should have been told.”
“Come on, AJ. We don’t know what she had to go through. We should give her a chance.” He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Just a second, guys. Let me answer that.” I stood up and Hailey walked with me, clinging to my legs once again. I was shocked when I looked out the peep hole. I should have known that AJ and Howie would have called the other guys, but I still wasn’t expecting it. ‘What will Nick think?’
~<3~<3~<3~
I opened the door and invited Kevin, Brian, and Nick in. Before I had a chance to say anything, Brian hugged me. He picked me up and spun me around.
“Don’t you ever do that again? Do you know how hard you are to find?” I laughed.
“Who’s this?” Kevin said, pointing towards Hailey. He bent down to her level, and she clung even tighter to me.
“Come in. Sit down. I’ll tell you all about her.” They all walked in and sat down in my small living room. “This is my daughter, Hailey.”
“Hello, Hailey.” Kevin shook her hand.
“Hi Kevvy.” She said shyly while blushing.
“She knows my name.”
“She knows all of your names. She’s a big fan.” She finally began to open up and acted like a ham, as usual. She spent most of the time in the lap of her favorite Backstreet Boy, Howie.
Throughout the hour since Brian, Kevin, and Nick arrived, I had avoided the inevitable question. I knew they were wondering who her father was. It didn’t come up until I put her down for her nap.
“She’s mine, isn’t she?” He didn’t even look at me when he said it. “I just have this feeling. She looks just like I did at her age. She acts a lot like I did too. The time works out that we would have still been together when she was conceived, and I knew you well enough to know you wouldn’t sleep with anyone else.” He finally looked me in the eye, waiting for my confirmation.
“Yes. She’s yours. She doesn’t know it though and I’m able to support her alone, so I don’t want you to feel at all obligated.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I missed watching my baby grow up. She’s two years old now. I missed so much.”
“You have every right to be made at me. I don’t blame you for hating me. I just couldn’t stand to ruin your life by telling you.” The other four guys had left the room sometime during the conversation.
“It wouldn’t have ruined my life. I wish I would have known. We could have gone through it together. We could have gotten married. We still can.”
“Nick, I don’t want to marry you. That’s one of the reasons I left. I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated, like you had to marry me. We didn’t love each other anymore. It’s not good to marry someone you don’t love.”
Our conversation went on for over a half an hour. We finally made a decision about what had to be done. I agreed to move back to Orlando. Nick and I would like together, but only as friends. We wouldn’t get married, but Nick and Hailey could get to know each other. I would go on the road with them, but not as a band member. Just as we finished making our plans, I heard Hailey begin to cry. Then I realized where the other guys had left to when I heard them begin to sing.
Come stop your crying / It will be all right / Just take my hand / Hold it tight / I will protect you / from all around you / I will be here / Don’t you cry / For one so small, / you seem so strong / My arms will hold you, / keep you safe and warm / This bond between us / can’t be broken / I will be here / Don’t you cry / ‘Cause you’ll be in my heart / From this day on / Now and forever more / You’ll be in my heart / No matter what they say / You’ll be here / in my heart always / Always
Song used: You'll Be In My Heart
Lyrics/music by: Phil Collins (Tarzan Soundtrack)
chapter twenty-one
chapter list
chapter twenty-three
